February 17, 2003

Bay Area Benefit Golf Tournament 

Bay Oaks Country Club will host a golf tournament to raise money for the children of the seven fallen astronauts of Mission STS-107 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.  

Entitled "Drive Beyond the Stars," the Columbia STS-107 Memorial Golf Tournament will take place Monday, March 3 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The all-day tournament is open to the public, with a maximum of 144 players allowed to participate.  In lieu of a registration fee, players are asked to make a donation to "The Spirit of Texas Columbia Scholarship Fund," which was established by KHOU-TV Channel 11, the Houston Chronicle and Sterling Bank.  

The minimum donation for an individual player is $125, and $500 for a team of four.  The donation provides for greens fees, cart fee, practice range balls, lunch provided by Outback Steakhouse and dinner provided by Carrabba's Italian Grill.

In addition, a limited number of tickets are available for the awards dinner and recognition reception for $50 each.  Former Shuttle Astronaut Michael "Rich" Clifford will serve as the keynote speaker.

"The NASA-Johnson Space Center community has been one of our biggest supporters since we launched 15 years ago," said Mike Griswold, general manager of Bay Oaks Country Club.  "Words cannot express the sense of loss we all feel by this terrible tragedy.  This golf tournament is one small way for us to help the community begin to heal and, more importantly, do
something positive to ensure the future of the children of Columbia's heroes."

Bay Oaks Country Club is located at 14545 Bay Oaks Blvd. on the corner of Pineloch and Bay Oaks Boulevard.  Registration for the golf tournament is currently open on a first-come, first-served basis.  To make a reservation, contact Barb Wirth at Bay Oaks Country Club at (281) 488-7888, extension 11.

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